El Tubo de la Muerte/The Pipeline of Death - Puerto Rico's Via Verde

The ‘gasoducto’ is a planned 92-mile natural gas pipeline, running from the southwestern coast of the island to the north. It cuts across over 200 bodies of water (from which drinking water is produced) and at least a thousand acres of forestland and farmland, endangering at least 200,000 nearby residents. For comparison, the island has a population of less than 4 million people. Governor Fortuno and his comprador (sellout) state proposed this pipeline with the full support of its u.s. colonizer, by way of the u.s. Army Corps of Engineers. The pipeline is said to be energy efficient, lowering energy costs on the island, but that has not been proven to be factual by either independent or UPR (Universidad de Puerto Rico) scientists. The pipeline itself is expected to cost upwards of 800 million to one billion dollars. Polls have shown that an overwhelming majority of the population (70%) opposes the building of “el tubo de la muerte” (the tube of death). In fact, while it is false that it will substantially decrease energy costs, it is more importantly an ecological and human disaster, as the pipeline would run across fault lines and tsunami danger areas.

Puerto Rico gets almost all of its energy from outside the nation and this ‘gasoducto’ would guarantee the island’s dependency on outside energy. This would benefit u.s. energy interests, as it guarantees them a permanent stake in Puerto Rico’s energy issues. This shows that the comprador colonial government does not care for the safety and well-being of the Puerto Rican people. It is more interested in saving a couple of dimes and providing profits for u.s. (and British) energy companies.

The people of Puerto Rico had until today, January 30, 2012, to express their views on one of the largest and potentially most destructive and controversial projects they have ever confronted: the 92-mile long Via Verde gas pipeline project. Yet, the agency charged with making this decision, the US Army Corps of Engineers district office in Jacksonville, Florida, has refused to translate the 110-page Via Verde Environmental Assessment into Spanish. Only 19 percent of the Island's population is bilingual.
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The refusal to translate this document follows a long pattern of deceit and back-room deal-making that started when Puerto Rico's Governor Luis Fortuño declared a state of energy emergency designed to maintain secrecy, fast-track the permit process and thwart full public participation in the discussion of the project. This was done to avoid compliance with basic standards and procedural safeguards for the construction of such a high-risk project.

Public opposition to the project, however, remains strong, with polls indicating that nearly 80% of the people of Puerto Rico oppose the construction of the pipeline. On May 1st of last year over 30,000 people marched against the pipeline under a torrential downpour in the central mountain town of Adjuntas. A larger national march has been called for February 19th beginning at the Army Corps office in San Juan and ending at the Governor's mansion.

Widespread sectors of Puerto Rican society are also united in their opposition to this project, including Casa Pueblo in Adjuntas, church groups, cultural, professional and political organizations, academics, labor unions, community groups and Puerto Rican citizens and environmental activists in the United States. In Washington, Congressman Luis Gutierrez of Chicago has fearlessly and passionately raised the issue and has demanded increased scrutiny and transparency.

Ironically, Via Verde is not a viable solution for Puerto Rico's energy needs. The infrastructure and the necessary permits to supply the gas could take 10 years to obtain. It is also not an economic alternative since studies have shown that the pipeline will provide savings of only one cent per kilowatt-hour. Those savings hardly justify the billion dollar price tag for Via Verde given a dire economic climate, widespread poverty and high unemployment rates on the island. Tens of millions have already been spent on the project, most on no-bid contracts given to consultants with close ties to the Governor.

Studies have also shown that this project would have an environmental impact larger than any other project carried out in Puerto Rico in decades. It will cross through 235 rivers and streams, impact the habitat of 34 endangered species and threaten the critical Conservation Zone of the Northern Karsts that produces 25 persent of the water consumed in Puerto Rico. Via Verde would cross near homes, schools, colleges, churches, public beaches, factories, and densely transited freeways, and would put the health, life and homes of over 200,000 people at risk. It would also threaten important archeological areas of Puerto Rico's indigenous Taino people.

President Obama's rejection of the similarly destructive 1,700-mile long Keystone XL pipeline last week raised hopes in the Island that Via Verde would soon meet the same fate. Indeed, the Island's usually conservative Association of Engineers recently issued a strongly worded statement opposing the project and even the Governor, perhaps fearing that Via Verde could become an election year liability, has asked the Energy Authority to explore cheaper, quicker solutions, although he has refused to withdraw the application.

Today, the very survival of the planet calls for nations across the world to move away from fossil fuels and toward renewable, sustainable sources of energy. Puerto Rico, an island blessed with the tropical sun and the winds and waves of the ocean, should be at the forefront of such efforts creating new jobs and preserving valuable resources.

With the majority of Puerto Ricans now living Stateside, where the Via Verde decision is being made, it is especially important for us, other Latinos and the environmental justice community to play a role in supporting the struggle of Puerto Ricans on the island to protect and preserve Puerto Rico for present and future generations.

The RSCC’s first call to action! SUPPORT THE PEOPLE OF PUERTO RICO AGAINST ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION!

We invite all CUNY students and our communities to show solidarity with the Puerto Rican people and we invite the community here to say NO AL GASODUCTO and YES TO A FREE PUERTO RICO!

Come join the RSCC contingent at the march/rally called by NY Contra El Gasoducto on February 19th in the NYC march/rally in solidarity with the National March Against the Gasoducto/Gas Pipeline at 11:30 AM in front of 26 Federal Plaza. Take the 4, 5, 6, J, Z trains to Chambers Street / Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall, or the R train to City Hall.

“El Tubo de la Muerte” (The Tube of Death):

The ‘gasoducto’ is a planned 92-mile natural gas pipeline, running from the southwestern coast of the island to the north. It cuts across over 200 bodies of water (from which drinking water is produced) and at least a thousand acres of forestland and farmland, endangering at least 200,000 nearby residents. For comparison, the island has a population of less than 4 million people.

Governor Fortuno and his comprador (sellout) state proposed this pipeline with the full support of its u.s. colonizer, by way of the u.s. Army Corps of Engineers. The pipeline is said to be energy efficient, lowering energy costs on the island, but that has not been proven to be factual by either independent or UPR (Universidad de Puerto Rico) scientists. The pipeline itself is expected to cost upwards of 800 million to one billion dollars. Polls have shown that an overwhelming majority of the population (70%) opposes the building of “el tubo de la muerte” (the tube of death). In fact, while it is false that it will substantially decrease energy costs, it is more importantly an ecological and human disaster, as the pipeline would run across fault lines and tsunami danger areas.

Who is this pipeline for?

Puerto Rico gets almost all of its energy from outside the nation and this ‘gasoducto’ would guarantee the island’s dependency on outside energy. This would benefit u.s. energy interests, as it guarantees them a permanent stake in Puerto Rico’s energy issues. This shows that the comprador colonial government does not care for the safety and well-being of the Puerto Rican people. It is more interested in saving a couple of dimes and providing profits for u.s. (and British) energy companies.

Where we stand:

The Revolutionary Student Coordinating Committee (RSCC), NYC understands that the forces supporting el ‘gasoducto’ are sellouts and colonizing forces themselves. The u.s. Army Corps of Engineers refused to translate the 100+ page document about the proposed ‘gasoducto’ from english to Spanish, even though most of the population only speaks Spanish. We support the demand of NO AL GASODUCTO.

As revolutionary students who are descendants of enslaved and/or colonized people (and yes, some of us are proud Puerto Rican revolutionaries), we understand the fundamental issue concerning Puerto Ricans on the island and in the u.s. is that of u.s. colonization, imperialism and national oppression.

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The collaboration of a ‘vende patria’ (traitor) such as Fortuno and the colonial oppressor u.s. has got to go. The issues that continuously hurt the Puerto Rican people (both on the island and in the u.s.) — such as el ‘gasoducto’, the AIDS epidemic, the War on Drugs, police brutality, poor education, lack of quality health care — all stem from the fact that Puerto Ricans are colonized subjects of the yanqui empire. RSCC believes that the fight against el ‘gasoducto’ (and other issues) must centralize the struggle for Puerto Rican independence, as these issues stem from u.s. white-supremacist capitalism. And, Puerto Ricans on the mainland must not only actively take part in the Puerto Rican Independence Movement, but must also take part in dismantling empire in the belly of the beast, here in the u.s.

NO AL GASODUCTO!

VIVA PUERTO RICO LIBRE!